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Scripture Motto

"Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:16

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Courage to Stay the Course. Courage to Keep the Faith Focus.

A recent devotional from www.InTouch.org
prompted me to examine how I handle the obstacles in my life. Referring to
the story of 12 spies, Numbers 13:25-14:10, it basically asked to whom am I
listening and trusting; the 10 pessimistic discouragers or the two optimistic
encouragers.

When the Hebrew children heard the terrifying description of
the 10,"…all the congregation lifted up their voices and
cried, and the people wept that night.All the sons of
Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to
them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in
this wilderness!Why
is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? …would it not be
better for us to return to Egypt?’” Numbers 14:1-3 NASB

Earlier on their journey to the Promised Land, they stood
between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army they of course thought they were doomed.
“There’s no time to go around it. We can’t go over it. And I’m certainly not
going to swim through it. We’re all going to die right here and now.”

So I asked: “Where is my focus? Is it on God’s promise or
the obstacles causing me to work harder to reach the promises?”

No matter the day… the week… the month… or year, there are
always obstacles thrown in the way. The path to the Promise Land is not paved
with gold or lined with milk and honey and pretty flowers. It is not a smooth
road without steep mountain climbs, rugged rocks, fast-moving streams, prickly
vines, or slippery mud. Yes, there are sections of smooth refreshing meadows
along the way, but God never promised a rose garden path to reach our
Destination.

So what do we do? Should we go around, over, under, or through them? Can we
move them out of the way? Or wait for God to part them as He did the Red Sea?

Seek the
Lord. Ask Him. Just don’t run away
from them.

Each day, we must prepare for the difficult obstacles the
enemy puts in our way. We must first resolve in our thoughts to keep on keepin’
on no matter the hurdles. We must lace our boots with courage and faith. We
must look up to the One waiting at the end with a glass of milk and a honeybun
for the victors.